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| Bruce Newman, Libertarian |
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| Candidate: U.S. Representative, District 1 |
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| Bruce Newman |
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| Age: 27 |
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| Residence: Redmond |
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| Occupation: |
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Transportation engineer |
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| Education: |
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M.S. in civil engineering, University of Washington |
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| Political history: |
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Paying taxes, waiting in lines, getting less for more |
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| Endorsements: No response |
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| Campaign Web site: www.FreedomExists.org |
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| 1. |
Should Congress act to lower the cost of prescription drugs? If so, should Congress create a Medicare drug benefit? |
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Guess what happens when Congress gives one dollar toward the purchase of prescription drugs? The asking price goes up by one dollar! No one is better off except the pharmaceutical industry. Guess what happens when Congress requires sales below the market price? Pharmaceutical companies stop researching and selling needed medicines. |
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| 2. |
Should the Snake River dams be torn down and timber harvests limited to protect endangered species? |
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While salmon are an essential resource, it is not clear that breaching these dams would help them. But eliminating marine transportation would put many farmers out of business and would seriously increase surface traffic and congestion. |
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Should new laws be enacted to prevent businesses from sharing consumers' personal information? |
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Businesses with unacceptable privacy policies lose customers. This is far more effective than another government agency controlling another aspect of your life. Congress has more important things to do than worry about telemarketers. |
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| 4. |
Are the nation's gun laws too restrictive, too lenient or appropriate as they are? |
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Too restrictive. Criminals are not deterred by laws against guns. But when they know that law-abiding citizens have access to firearms, they may decide breaking into your home or assaulting you is not worth the risk. This is why crime drops when law-abiding citizens are allowed to carry concealed weapons. |
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| 5. |
Should America be trading with China and/or Cuba? Why? |
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Libertarians believe you are responsible enough to decide with whom to trade. I have no business choosing for you. |
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| 6. |
Do you favor or oppose access to abortion? Should the president appoint justices who oppose abortion rights? |
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I generally support access to abortion. But I think everyone would like fewer abortions to occur. I would focus my energy on reducing barriers to adoption. The president should nominate justices who respect the Constitution. They understand abortion is not a matter for the federal government to decide. |
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| 7. |
Should the government pay to give school vouchers to parents who choose to send their children to private schools? |
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Vouchers are an excellent way for the government to take over private schools. The Legislature would require voucher schools to run the way that government schools are run. Yes, we must move to return educational choices to parents and educators. But charter schools are a better approach than vouchers. |
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| 8. |
Is there any project in Washington that deserves more federal support? How would you secure that funding? |
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No. When we funnel our tax money through Washington, D.C., Congress takes a percentage and tells us how to spend the portion it sends back. We are left with fewer choices and less money. America prospered for 140 years without a federal income tax. Small government works without one. |
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| 9. |
What should Congress do to shore up Social Security? |
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"Shoring up" Social Security simply aggravates the inevitable collapse. Congress must provide for those currently retired and nearing retirement, and then allow individuals to opt out of the program. Today's workers cannot afford to retire on the promise that in 40 years Congress will still allow this ridiculously low return. |
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| 10. |
How would you extend healthcare coverage to more Americans? |
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Twenty years ago, few could afford air travel. Since then, partial deregulation of airlines has increased competition and reduced prices dramatically. The same could happen in the medical care and insurance markets. Government regulations are a cost that businesses are forced to pass on to their customers. |
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